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One day last week after a long suffering bout where I had felt like I was dangling over a deep canyon and just the tiniest error on my part or a soft whiff of wind would send me plummeting into the deep and… end, many confusing thoughts and swirling emotions gripped me. It was a […]

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I have had more excruciating suffering bouts the past week but I won’t distress you with them. What good would that do? You know what I’m going through and how I cling to my Savior and Healer. I am thankful that joy adamantly adheres to me in spite of the suffering, a staunch ally against […]

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Like any other testimony of God’s wonders and grace, whether a major one or of the everyday kind, this story began at the deepest end of human emotions: weariness, anger, resentment, lostness, helplessness. Of hope flying away; faith groping in the dark; heart bordering to rebellion. Against God. A body and heart that have been so […]

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Even as I cling to this, that to be wholly God’s is the whole meaning and purpose of life, I still intentionally pursue it with a single-minded determination through the moments of everyday. I mean, it could easily wriggle out of one’s grasp like a slippery fish. And there are moments still that it’s hard […]

You are here: Home / Motherhood / Christian Discipline: When We Make Our Possessions Our Gods

Christian Discipline: When We Make Our Possessions Our Gods

No, this is not a heavy-handed sermon on idolatry (although I know that there a lot of people out there who have shifted their affections from the living God to things that give them pleasure). The Bible says that when we obsessively covet something, that is idolatry.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Col. 3:5, emphasis mine)

This is about my daughter Hannah. And I’m not writing this to put her down or embarrass her. I’m sharing this so we can all learn the lesson.

Before Hannah learned to use a cellphone, she had a beautiful, exciting life. When she was 5 or 6, she loved art. She still does today but she rarely has time. When I went to the hospital to give birth to Tim, she shoved a shoebox and a big brown envelop towards me filled with her arts and crafts she especially prepared for my stay in the hospital. “To remember me by, Mom” were her parting words.

She used to love to play, swinging in the park high up in the air or biking around the neighborhood, her long hair flying with the wind. She had an appreciation of nature – examining bugs and insects and flowers even the tiniest ones. And she never missed to bring me flowers from her forays around our village. If she didn’t see fresh ones from the stalks, she picked up fallen frangipanis from the ground. But she grew up and learned other things, things that are not necessarily beneficial.

She has a natural computer acumen, almost instinctive. Are children of this age born with it? Hannah coaches me in photo editing and in designing my upcoming book! Needless to say, she knows a lot that I didn’t know about. But her academic performance took a downturn when she wrapped her life around her gadgets. Being strictly disciplined by us in using the laptop (only school work), she maximized the use of her Android cellphone. I gave it to her last Christmas so she could call us when she was away.

But as I’ve said, she wrapped her whole life around it, neglecting other things. I believe this is the reason why she didn’t receive a medal in academic excellence this year, only gold and silver certificates. This summer, her obsession of her cellphone got worse. Of course, she still does the chores she’s assigned, but her consciousness is with her gadgets. She received a big case of art materials from her aunt and uncle from the states but she has not opened it yet. She has many unread books in the library but they remain unread. After her successful piano recital 2 weeks ago, she has not sat down in front of the piano to play some tunes. I told her to research some praise music pieces to learn so we can give glory to God with them, but she chooses to hole up in the guest room tinkering with her cellphone.

My patience maxed out yesterday morning. I called her in the room and gave her a dressing down. I explained to her what was happening with her life because of her obsession with gadgets. Her cellphone was the first thing she reached for in the morning and the last thing she laid aside at night. I reminded her that she has been neglecting to pray and praise before bedtime. I told her how she has traded life with her cellphone which is impotent. Yes, I told her how she has made her cell phone her god. It hurt I know, but Proverbs 27:5 says, “A spoken reprimand is better than approval that’s never expressed” (MSG).

Everything that takes us away from the worship of the living God and steals our love for Him is from the devil. That is his main goal: to create gods out of our possessions.

I opened my Bible and brought her to Revelation 2:2-4:

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Emphasis mine).

I reminded her that the Lord Jesus Christ is our first love, our joy, our life! That He died on the cross to give us life, for we were dead in our sins. But He came to give us life and that life is abundant! Abundant in love and joy and excitement with our fellowship with Him, with the people in our lives and the gifts He gave us, like music, art, play, talents, etc.

With tears in my eyes and the hairs of my arms standing up, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as I implored her to renew her love for the Lord and enjoy the life He has given.

There’s more. When I told her gently but firmly that I needed to take back the cellphone , she was displeased. I told her that it was the enemy who has taken a foothold on her that was resisting. If it was the Holy Spirit, she should have humbled down and willingly surrendered her cellphone. I explained to her that. In the end, I knew my words found their way to her heart, by the grace of God.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Comments

Rina: Bold move on your part. It would be interesting to find out how this all turns out a little farther down the road, because you are right. We recently got a tablet computer and its easy call has been hypnotic. Yikes.

Dear Ms. Joanne Potter, there really is a need to follow this through closely: I’m out on a mission! The first day had a lot of improvement – she made herself more available and even assisted me to make banana bread and showed enthusiasm with the task.

Hi Sis Rina! Thanks for your blog today. I can really relate on it. I can say that I got the same problem now with my daughter, Yssa. I have regrets in giving her a cellphone and not only that, I applied for a group-plan in which she can use it unlimited. Last school days, I often told her the bad effect for her of using cellphone all the time. Sad to say, her grades turned down that is why her scholarship got affected. Before, she used to be fond of reading books, she just stayed in her room and reads a lot, but now, I can only see her reading when there is homework or examination. I still believe she will change because I always pray for her to be a responsible student so with my eldest son, Igi. I will let them read your article today, I know it will help. Kindly include my children to your prayers….Thank again….TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Yes, my dear friend Gina, I do encourage you to let your kids read the post. Make rules that they must follow with regard to gadgets. I will be praying for your household. Plan a time to spend with the kids (leaving all cellphones behind!) like baking, walking around town, etc. That way, their consciousness will not be tied with their gadgets.

Excellent message!!! My son was an avid reader. We were constantly planning outings to bookstores and our local library. One day he decided that he would save his money and purchase an iPad. My husband and I supported it because it would allow him to download books and continue his love of reading. Since purchasing the iPad about 4-5 years ago, his love of reading has seized. He now only reads the books that are required for a class assignment. We are grateful that he continues to read his bible frequently. Thanks for sharing!

I couldn’t agree with you more. It is common for a pastor to preach on “idols” developing in our lives, but it needs to be said! I see mothers with fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and nice TVs make the excuse that they can’t afford to stay at home with their children. Where are the priorities? Jesus wants us to live simply so we can serve others. It becomes hard in this busy, keep-up-with-the-Joneses society in which we live.

Dear Lisa, what you say is true. I, too, am wearied by what I see in women who profess godliness yet in their lifestyle it’s quite the opposite. Well, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and I pray that He will continue to do His work in us.

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It is my hope and prayer that this place, where like a drink offering, I pour out my heart and soul through words, will be a place where you find comfort and refreshment for your spirit. May you "meet" the Savior here and leave blessed, in any form that you need His blessing. View my complete profile.